SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS (Chambana Today) – A black bear has been confirmed moving through southwestern Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced last week. While large predators such as black bears, wolves, and cougars are rare in Illinois, occasional sightings occur as these animals sometimes cross state borders.

Big predators were extirpated from Illinois by the late 1800s due to habitat loss and the near extinction of white-tailed deer. However, individual animals have reappeared sporadically over the past few decades, with many sightings captured thanks to the increased use of trail cameras by the public.

Residents living in the area are advised to remove or secure food sources such as trash cans, pet food, and grills to avoid attracting wildlife.

For more details, you can read the official IDNR media release here: https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.31336.html. To report a large predator sighting, visit: https://wildlifeillinois.org/…/report-large-carnivore…/. Watch a video on the return of large predators here: https://youtu.be/5hDHGA7Ysis?feature=shared. And learn how to safely navigate wildlife encounters at the University of Illinois Extension website: https://extension.illinois.edu/wildlife.

While these sightings may cause concern, experts say large predators are unlikely to establish permanent populations in Illinois due to the lack of sufficient habitat.